Elysian is a blissful, divine state of being. Elysian comes from classical Greek Mythology in the form of Elysium or Elysian Fields or the abode of the blessed after death. In this form, Elysian was first used around 1579. Elysian used as an adjective describing a blissful, peaceful state was first used in Shakespeare’s Henry V.
Elysium and Elysian Fields were and are used by various writers to describe places of paradise and emotionally divine states. The writer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was the first after Shakespeare to use Elysian as an adjective to describe the blissful, peaceful, divine quality that emanates from such a place. When used as an emotionally descriptive word, elysian doesn’t need to be capitalized, though it often is.
Just gazing at such a scene fills me with euphoric, elysian feelings…
Elysian is one of those words that I feel like I’ve always just known (thank you passing interest in Greek mythology!). I feel as though elysian can be used to describe so much of nature and it’s limitless glories. What do you think of the word elysian and is it one you’re familiar with?
Namaste ~ Ella
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** If there’s a word you’d like to see added to the Word Nerd roster, please feel free to contact me or suggest it in the comments – I enjoy feedback and recommendations!
Lawhimsy 